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KNOX COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 



DELEA^ERED 0:N' JULY FOUKTH, 1870. 



By SOLOMON DRAPER. 



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NIOJJKAllA. NKCEASKA: 

' 1 N EER PUBLlSHlNcl HOUSH. 
1S76. 



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KNOX COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 



DELiVEPvEU ON JULY FOUIOTI, 187G. 



By SOLOMON DRAPER. 



NIOBRARA, NEBRASKA: 

PIONEER PUBLISHING HOUSE. 
1876. 




■KiDi 



HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 



By SOLOMON DEAPEE. 



This county, bounded on the north by 
the Missouri and Niobrara rivers, on 
the west by range line between ranges 
eiglit and nine, west; on the south by 
tlie township line between townships 
twenty-eight and twenty-nine, and on 
the east l)y range line between ranges 
one and two, west, in the jS'ebraska sur- 
vey, had its first settlement by white 
men, June 7, 1856. 

THE FIRST SKTTLERS OF THE (BOUNTY. 

This settlement was made by ])r. B. 
Y. Shelley, now a resident of tlie county, 
and one II. R. Cowan, wiio came to the 
present site of Niobrara, the comity 
• seat, for the purpose of locating a town. 
Previous to 18.53 this portion of Xeln-as- 
ka, and indeed all the country between 
the Platte and Niobrara rivers, was 
claimed by the Omaha Indians ; but by 
a treaty made in this year between the 
Omahas and the United States, they re- 
linquished to the government all claim 
to the lands lying between these rivers, 
sa"e what -might be sufficient for a 
suitable reservation. The Indians would 
appear by the terms of the treaty, to have 
intended that part of their old domain 
lying between Aaoway creek and the 
Niobrara for their reservation, as by an 



article in the treaty this section was ex- 
pressly designated as such, but with a 
shrewd proviso that they might select 
some other under certain conditions. In 
this year, 185:!, the agent with the chief 
men of the Omahas, without examining 
the Niobrara country as directed by the 
government, chose the Black Bird 
country, their present reservation, as the 
permanent home for their tribe. 

OPENING THE INDIAN COUNTRY TO 
SETTLEMENT. 

The result of this change of the 
Omaha reservation, confirmed by the 
government, was that the country be- 
tween Aaoway creek and the Niobrara 
river, reverted to the United States sub- 
ject to pre-emption laws like other pub- 
lic lands. But no sooner had matters 
been definitely settled with the Omahas 
than the Poiicas influenced, as it is 
claimed, by traders, began very strenu- 
ously to urge tlieir claims to this Nio- 
brara country. They warned the whites 
to keep off, and certain white men in- 
terested in trade with them did all they 
could to create the impression that this 
portion of Nebraska was not open to 
settlement. In June, 1856, however, the 
gentlemen above referred to, satisfied 



HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 



that tlie Iiulian title to this country had 
l)een extinguished, set out to explore it. 
On arriving at the west branch of 
Aaoway creek, at the sight of tlie pres- 
ent town of Ponea. in Dixon county, 
they found at the crossing of the creek 
a post set in tlie ground with a. hoard 
nailed upon it, and on whicli was written 
the following warning!;: 

"I will not be responsible for the in- 
jury done to white men or tlieir property 
on this side of Aaoway creek". 

(Signed) "MuaiKL Saykk. 
" Chief Foiica.sy 

Little attention, liowever, was paid to 
this Avarning. and the journey was con- 
tinued near enough the Missouri river 
to note Mdiere the ]!^iob]-ara poured its 
waters into the former. On arriving on 
the iSTiobrara bottom a I'ouca village 
was found. .Vntoine, one of the present: 
chiefs of the Poncas, came out and met 
these pioneers some distance below the 
village and conducted them into the 
])resence of the head chiefs — Hard 
"Walker, Iron Whip, and the business 
chief, Michel, 

LOCATING THE TOWX SITE. 

Our pioneers told the Indians that 
they came to see their country, but came 
as friends, and asked if tliey had any 
objection to their going up the Xio- 
brara, to which the Indians replied, 
"No objection." They proceeded as 
far as the second small creek above 
Xiobrara, ac(;ompanied by three young 
Ijraves, who had been sent along by the 
chiefs. Here they turned back and 
camped near where Joseph Sedivy now 
lives. Xext morning they came down 
the river until they reached the timljer 
near AVilliam Lamont's place. Here the 
doctor blazed a willow tree and marked 
it the soutliwest corner of their claim. 
They then returned to tiie Ponca village 
and tolil Micliel and Anloine what thev 



had done, and tliat their object was to 
locate claims for themselves and a num- 
ber of friends, and tliat they might as 
well be the lirst to come upon tlieir 
lands as anybody else. Our pioneers 
asked permission to lay a "foundation" 
with logs down in the timher, which the 
Indians readily granted. ^Vfter laying 
their "foundation" they returned down 
the river, and on reaching 8ioux City 
and Council Uliilfs tliey told some 
friends what tliey had done, and asked 
tliem to join in starting tlie town of 
Niobrara. A company was tlien for 
tlie time formed and called "L'eau qui- 
Court Company." The company shortly 
afterward commenced to-make improve- 
ments, but this did not please the I'onca 
Indians, who had already been instigated 
by their old friends, the French traders. 
These traders were the parties Avho 
originally started the town of Rulo, in 
the southeastern part of the State, and it 
was thought desired tlie Niobrara coun- 
try at this time for their own use. ])uring 
this winter of 18."MJ-T all the houses and. 
improvements, except the "old fort," in 
which the settlers at that time had gone 
for safety, were burned by the Indians. 
Piecourse was also had to misrepresen- 
tations, and urgent appeals to the com- 
mander at Fort Kandall. Colonel Lee, 
then commanding there, represented in 
his orders tliat they Avere sanctioned, or 
recommended, by the then Oovernor of 
Nebraska and other functionaries of the 
Territory, Avhich orders Avere peremp- 
tory to the white residents of Niobrara 
to leaA^e the place forthwith, or he should 
be obliged to coerce them as intruders 
upon Indian lands. This combined 
attack of Indians, speculators, and men 
of different I'anks, grades and stations, 
poAverful as it may seem, Avas success- 
fully resisted and oA'ercoine; although 
it manifested itself also Avith consider- 



HISTORY OF KmLY COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 



able streiigtli in its efforts to defeat tlie 
passage of an act incorporating tlie 
L'eau qui Coiirt Company. The com- 
mander at Fort llandall having Ijeen 
furnished the opinion of the Secretary 
of tlie Interior, declaring the disputed 
country open to M'hite settlers, and cor- 
responding instructions having been re- 
ceived from the Secretary of War, im- 
mediitely suspended all interierence 
w'ilu these determined men. After this 
the prospects of the company seemed to 
brighten, but 

Till-: IXDIAN AXNOVAXCKS 

still continued, and during the s])ring 
months of 1857 numerous acts of hostil- 
ity were committed. Live stock and 
other property were destroyed. The 
I^oncas, made drunk by traders, fre- 
quently tried to intimidate and frighten 
settlers away from their claims. It is 
not often that a contest can so long be 
waged between frontiersmen and In- 
dians without l)eing placed upon record 
with traces of carnage and l)lood. Too 
much cannot be said for the Avisdom 
and cool, prudent conduct in this stivig- 
gle of the men who passed the lirst 
winter at Xiobrara. Colonel Lee fre- 
quently expressed his surprise at the 
luiaccountable obstinacy of those men 
who held the place ; Re advised them to 
leave "the Ponca country," as he ex- 
pected daily to hear of their being 
scalped. 

OKGANI/AtION of L'EAV (^11 COl'KT 
COrNTY. 

During the session of the Territorial 
Legislature of Nebraska, in 185()-7, the 
L'eau qui Court Company, having pre- 
viously been made up of gentlemen 
scattered over the Western States and 
Territories, was properly and duly in- 
cor])orated. In the act of incorporation 
the town of Xiobrara was located, the 
company's claim defined, and liberal 



ferry and bridge privileges guaranteed. 
The claim of the company embraced 
almost the entire Niobrara bottom for a 
town site. Their motto seems to have 
been the same as that of the wife of 
Jack Means, in Mr. Eggleston's "Iloosier 
Schoolmaster," — "AVhileyou are a gittin', 
git a- plenty." At the same session an 
act was passed creating the County of 
li'eau qui Court, and by which Niobrara 
seciu'ed the county seat in its corporate 
1 imits. The State Legislature, however, 
Fel)ruary, 187:3, passed an act to take 
effect April 1, 187o, changing the name 
of the county to Knox, its present name. 
The change is a great convenience, and 
county oflicers and lawyers certainly 
ought to be thaidcful. 

co>i.mi:x(i;mext of busixess. 
The permanent improvements, how- 
ever, date from about the first of July, 
18.'57, although a snudl store had been 
opened a month or two earlier. The 
steamer Omaha, from St. Louis, laden 
chielly for Niobrara, landed there .Tune 
2!)th, greatly to tlie Ijewilderment of the 
six hundred Ponca Indians who 
swarmed upon the levee, and who still 
maintained their groiuul upon the town 
claim. Thi-ee days after the first frame 
building was completed in Niobrara. 
Q'he steam saw mill was immediately 
put in operation, and in little more than 
three months thereafter a hotel had 
been built and opened, at that time the 
largest j'jct erected in Nebraska, being 
three stories high and costing about 
!?10,()00. In August of this year there were 
over sixty men living at and near Nio- 
brara. At the Territorial election, held 
this month, the first ^leld in the county, 
there were forty-two votes cast. The 
first United States mail arrived in Nio- 
brara this month. 

TIIETKEATY A\ ITII THE TOXCA IXDIAXS. 

The Poncas continued the destruction 



6 



HI8T0RY OF KNOX COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 



of property, and it soon became evident 
that it was necessarj' for the govern- 
ment to have a treaty with them. Ac- 
cordingly, in October, a council was 
held and arrangements made for some 
of the chiefs to go to Washington to see 
the "Great Father." In January, 1858, 
while the chiefs were away, some very 
serious depredations were committed, 
and the Indians assumed an attitude so 
decidedly hostile that protection was 
asked of and granted by the commander 
at Tort Ilandall, and a detachment of 
soldiers was sent to Niobrara for about 
a month. A treaty was effected in 
March, and in May following the Poncas 
were removed to the north side of the 
Niobrara liver, and thus terminated the 
tedious sti'uggle. 
Still there were other 

OBSTACLES TO CONTEND WITH. 

The monetary crisis of 18.i7 stripped tlie 
whole frontier of all available funds, 
destroyed confidence, stagnated busi- 
ness, and crippled for a time the invinc- 
ible energies of the Great West, and 
Niobrara, with our entire county, was 
no exception. For the next few years 
but little was done. 

ORIGlNATOnS OF THE TOWN OF MO- 
BHARA. 

The L'eau qui Court Company failed, 
and a new company, " Tlie Niobrara 
Town Company," was organized. The 
failure of the old company took place 
before they had secured title to the town 
site, and the patents were finally issued 
to the Niol)raraTown Company. Among 
the leading men in the old company were 
Dr. B. Y. Shelley, James Tufts. H. W. 
Harges, .1. Austin Lewis, W. H. Benner, 
Geo. W. Gregg and Henry Thompson. 
The new company was composed of 
a part of the members of the 
old company, and some new 
men, among whom were Dr. Joel A. 



Potter, J. Sliaw Gregory, Robert M. 
Hagaman, Walter M. Barnum, Ferdi- 
nand Weis, and others. Tliis new com- 
pany was formed in ISGO, and the patents 
for the land were issued in 1861. The 
new company was never very prospei'- 
ous. The war of the Great Rebellion 
came on, and with the Indian massacre 
in Minnesota in 1862, greatly impeded 
the settlement of Northern Nebraska. 
"OLD si:ttlf:rs" still ifere. 
Of the old settlers who are now in 
Niobrara. William J.amont, C. G. Ben- 
ner and T. N.Paxton.and their families, 
came in 1858; T. G. HuUihen and H. 
Westermann, in 1859; Otto E. C. Knud- 
sen in 1800, and Fritz Bruns in 1862. 
In 1859 about seventy-live men left 
Niobrara for Pike's Peak. 

STORIES OF the "OLD TIME." 

Many interesting stories are told of 
these new times. Indian scares were 
of frequent occurrence. They were 
sometimes genuine, and sometimes 
manufactured. Even after the Poncas 
were taken across the river many of 
them, and sometimes the Sioux, would 
come around in great numbers. In the 
fall of 1859 the danger was so imminent 
that tlie most of the ijeople would gather 
at the liotel to sleep and put out guards- 
One night, II. Westermann, Robert 
Ilagermaim ;ind Walter M. Barnum were 
sent out on tlie second watch, and after 
walking around the hotel a few times, 
long enough for the first watch to get to 
sleep, they concluded that it was a poor 
night for Indians, and so went in and 
laid themselves down to sleep also. But 
no sooner tiad they begun to dream of 
happier days tlian a commotion was 
heard outside, wliich seemed to indicate 
that the whole Sioux nation had come. 
The alarm was immediately given, and 
preparations quickly made for a death 
struggle. (Jn investigation, however, it 



HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 



WHS found that the noise was all caused 
by the arrival of one Fred. Reinier, with 
' an ox team loaded with flour. These men 
were not sent out on guard again. 

A MANUFACTURED INDIAN SCARE. 

On another occasion the presence of 
one Jim Brown became distasteful to 
many of the residents, and it was re- 
solved to have an Indian attack for 
his benefit. Accordingly arrangements 
were made, and about midnight the 
attack commenced. A party of 
men sallied out to drive the supposed 
Indians away, which they succeeded in 
doing, but shortly returned with one 
wounded man and a manufactured 
corpse out of the body of H. Wester- 
mann. Brown locked himself in his 
room and would see no one that night. 
Xext morning the corpse was laid out 
on the counter in the store of its "live- 
ly" i)OSsessor, and Brown taken to see 
it. He only looked through the window 
and then started f<.)r civilization, and 
did not stop until he arrived at St. 
John, ten miles this side of Dakota City. 
Here he infcnmed the people that the 
Sioux had attacked Niobrara, killed H. 
Westermann, mortally wounded another 
man, and proliably had killed and 
scalped all the settlers, as they were 
still hi the vicinity when he left. This 
report was ])ublished in the St. Louis 
Republican and other newspapers, and 
generally circulated. 

GOOD TIMES FOR MONEY. 

In July, 1860, the Ponca Indians, half- 
breeds and Frenchmen received their 
first annuities and damages from the 
government on account of the change 
in their reservation ))y treaty. Money 
was a))undant for a short time. People 
could be seen on the streets with their 
silver in old flour sacks thrown over 
their shoulders. One trader, who sup- 
posed that his entire stock was not 



' worth to exceed three hundred dollars, 
I found no trouble in taking in nine hun- 

dred and fifty dollars in one day. 
i Christmas, 1869, is said to be the only 
other good day Niobrara has ever had 
for trade with Indians. At this time 
one thousand dollars in large bills were 
taken in one day, and three six-quart 
milk pans full of fractional currency 
were received, but considered too small 
to count accurately. No wonder Indian 
traders sigh for the good old 1 imes of 
yore. 

A GENUINE INDIAN SCARE. 

In 1862 occurred the genuine Indian 
scare. This was the result of the Min- 
nesota massacre, and while it turned 
out that the people in Northern Nebras- 
ka were in no real danger, the incident 
shows the state of alarm in whicli the 
people lived. They all left with the ex- 
ception of William Laniont, William 
Bigham, Harry Hargis, T. O. Ilullihen, 
and Antoine La Riviere. The last two 
of whom, H. Westermann claims he left 
to guard a barrel of whisky, l)ut on re- 
turnnig he found the barrel and men all 
right l)ut the whisky was gone. The 
guaids, however, and their fiiends re- 
taliated by saying that Westermann 
took a race with the mail to Council 
Blufts and Iteat it by three days time. 
Tlie scare was of short duration, and 
the people returned to their homes. 

REBELLIOUS SOLDIER GITARDS. 

I}i 1864 soldiers were brought to Nio- 
l)rara to protect the settlers from the 
Indians. They, however, proved a far 
worse scourge than the Indians them- 
selves. These brave protectors went 
into people's houses and took tlie nieals 
prepared for the family, killed chickens, 
turkeys and pigs, milked the cows, tore 
down, and even Vturnt, dwellings and 
other buildings. So oppressive did 
they become that the peoi)le were com- 



HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 



pelled to leave. The records of the 
(•♦uuty ^\ore sent to Omaha, the mail 
was stopped, and the town abanaoned. 
The soldiers were soon sent elsewhere, 
and the settlers returned to their homes. 
However, thej^ were not permitted to 
rest imdisturhed long. Tn 1S(J() the 
Santee Sioux Indians were brought and 
settled in the midst of their homes. 
We shall speak of the outrage of bring- 
ing and keeping tliese Santees in our 
county, furthei- on. 

THE FIRST ASS]:SS:MEXT AXD TAX-LEA'Y. 

In 18G6, the records of the county were 
brought back from Omaha, and, in 1868, 
the first assessment and levy of taxes 
made. In 18(59 the first taxes were col- 
lected in the county, amounting to 
about three hundred and fifty dollars. 

OTHEll EAULY SETTLEMICNTS. 

There were three other settlements 
of some note in the early history of the 
county. Frankfoi-t, Breckenridge and 
the Running Water. 

Frankfort was first settled by S. 
Loeber, recently d(>coased; in 1850 he 
opened an Indian trading post here. 
Smutty Bear had the camp of his tribe 
across the river, making this a good 
trading point. In the following year 
Mr. Loeber was joined by his In-other, 
Justus Loeber, Es(i., the present pro- 
prietor of Frankfort. The town was 
laid out in 1857, and the plat filed in 
St. James, the then seat of justice of 
Cedar county, and was afterwards 
burned Avith other records of that 
county. Fifteen or twenty men located 
here and a luimber of houses were built 
during this year, and, at one time, it 
Avas thought that Frankfort would be 
the town on the Upper Missouri. The 
people here also had their trouble with 
the Indians. One undertook to kill S. Loe- 
ber in 1857, but AVm. Loeber snatched 
the gun from him and drove him away. 



Goods and i)ro visions were brought 
from Sioux City at this time with ox 
teams. 

THE IltGIlES r RISE OF AVATER KNOAVN. 

In 185f) it is said that the highest 
Avater occurred ever knoAvn in the Mis- 
souri at this ])lace, the entire loAver por- 
tion of the Frankfort bottom being OA'er- 
fioAved. 

INDI'STUlors AND AAHOALTIIY FARMERS. 

Of the old settlers uoav living about 
this place, Louis Steltner came to this 
county in 1850; Justus Loeber and 
Charles Mischke in 1857; Leonai'd 
"NA'eigand, .Tohu BuhroAv, John Leeder, 
deceased, and Mr. Mettsler, in 1862. 
These men all came to the county pos- 
sessed of but little property, and they 
luwe since been steadily accumulating 
until they have become (piite Avealthy. 
One of them, at least, Mr. Weigand, 
values his property at thirty thousand 
dollars, and has raised nine children in 
the meantime. The remains of Avagons, 
with wheels made of saAved sections 
from large logs, iised by some of these 
men Avhen they were too poor to afford 
anything else, can still be seen upon their 
farms. Twelve or sixteen years ago, 
these men Avere poor; uoav they are 
rich, and have made their money in this 
county. As they have done, so other 
men of industrious, economical habits 
can do. 

TJIK TOWN OF BRECKENRIDGE. 

Breckenridge, noAV Santee Agency, 
Avas located in 1857 by Maj. J. Shaw- 
Gregory, Dr. Joel A. Potter, the Stein- 
berg Bros., and others. This place has 
the honor of having the first mill in the 
county. It was a wind mill, and ulti- 
mately proved a failure. Some of these 
men subsecpiently became interested at 
Niobrara, and the improvements made 
here were suffered to go to ruin. Lands, 
hoAvever, were entered near here, and 



HmTORY OF KNOX COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 



have recently been patented to the 
heirs of Alexander Cook and Anthony 
Jenick, and one-qnarter section on the 
Bazile patented in 1861 to M. Hnddles- 
ton. 

THE RUNNING WATER SETTLEMENT. 

The Running Water settlement, now 
Pischelville, on the Nioljrara, was com- 
menced in 1858 by Judge T. N. Paxton. 
He lived here live years, and was com- 
pelled to leave by the Santee Sioux In- 
dians. At the time of leaving, the 
judge had the best farm in the county, 
and certainly had one of the iinest loca- 
tions in the West. A William Steel and 
William Smith also lived here for a 
while, and, had it not been for the 
trouble with the Indians, we probably 
should have had the Ijest farming com- 
munity at this place to 1)6 found in our 
county. 

SANTKE SIOUX INDIANS. 

To make what 1 wish to say on this 
subject perfectly intelligible, I shall re- 
fer to some of the Acts of Congress and 
the Sioux Treaty of 18(JS. 

The Santees were originally composed 
of four tribes — the Sisseton, the Yv alipa- 
ton, the Medawakanton and AV'ahpo- 
koola, and were the authors of the Min- 
nesota Massacre in 1862. After the 
massacre, a part of them ran away to 
the northwestern plains, some of whom 
were afterward settled in Xorthern 
Dakota, where they now are. 

The first act on the part of Congress 
in regard to these Indians, after the 
massacre, was approved February Kj, 
1863, and provided that all treaties 
heretofore made Ijetween these Indians 
and the United States are declared al:»ro- 
gated and annidled ; and all grants and 
rights of occupacy within the State of 
Minnesota, and all annuities and claims 
heretofore accorded to these Indians, or 
any of them, to be forfeited to the 



I' nited States. (See Vol. 12, U. S. Stats, 
at Large, p. 6.52.) 

The next act of Congress on this mat- 
ter, approved March 3, 1863, provided 
tliat the President be authorized to with- 
draw by order, and set it apart for these 
Indians, a tract of unoccupied land, 
outside of the limits of any State, suffi- 
cient in extent to assign to each, dis- 
]»(jsed to follow agricultural i)ursuits, 
eighty acres of good agricultural lands; 
and that these Indians shall ])e subject 
to the laws of the United States, and to 
the criminal laws of the State or Terri- 
tory in Avhich they may happen to re- 
side. (See Vol. 12, U. S. Stats, at Large, 
p. 819.) 

The next Act of Congress we tind on 
tliis subject, is in the Iiulian appropria- 
tion bill, approved March 3, 1865, and 
gives to these Indians, Avithout any 
restoration of treaty rights, or even ex- 
planation on tlie subject, the back an- 
nuities up to, and including interest, 
payable July 1, 1866, amounting to 
$44(5,433.56, and for their subsistence, 
clothing, and incidental expenses $100,- 
000 additional. (See Indian Appropria- 
tion Lill, Vol. 13, U. S. Stats, at Large, 
p. 559.) 

We next tind these Indians in the 
Great Sioux Treaty at Laramie, in 1868, 
and in section eleven of this treaty, 
in consideration of the reservation 
granted, and provision and clothing to 
be furnished, they relinquished all 
right to occupy permanently any lands 
outside of their reservation in Dakota, 
See Vol. 15, U. S. Stats, at Large, pp. 
637 and 647. 

By virtue of the second act referred to > 
the Santee Sioux, now in our county, 
with the exception of those under arrest 
at that time for participating in the 
massacre, were located by order of the 
President on Crow Creek, above here in 



10 



HISTORY ()F KNOX COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 



Dakota, in 1N(34 or '(w. In April, 1800, 
tliese Indians were In'ongiit from Crow 
Creek, and with tliosc wlio had been 
under arrest, settled on the Niobrara 
bottom, and on land already entered 
and ])atented. In the following fall 
they Avere removed to tlie IJazil on and 
about the Huddleston plaoe, where they 
were wintered and destroyed some of 
the liest timber ever in the county. In 
the following- spring tliey were remoA ed 
to where they now are. 

It will be noticed tl Kit these Indians 
have no treaty with the government, 
except the Sioux treaty of 1808, and by 
wliich they agree to go upon their 
reservation in Dakota. Also that the 
lands now occupied by them, in this 
county, were withdrawn by order of the 
President by virtue of the act of March 
3, 1803, providing that the lands with- 
drawn should lie outside of the limits 
of any state, and unoccupied. 

The enabling act, for the admission of 
Xebraska as a State into the Union, 
was approved April ID, 1864. A consti- 
tution had been adopted, and Xebraska 
was virtually a State before this' land 
was withdrawn. Further, a part of the 
land first taken in our county, and even 
of these now held, were at that time 
occupied lands, and some were even 
owned in fee by the white settlers. 
(See record of that date in Land Office 
at Xiobrara.) I also call attention to 
the following by the Agent of the San- 
tees. After reciting the authority un- 
der which he acts, and the boundaries of 
the so-called Santee reservation, the no- 
tice proceeds : 

" All persons are therefore hereby no- 
tified that the above described tract of 
land is set apart by government for the 
Santee Sioux Reservation, and no en- 
croachment or occupation by white 
men will be allowed thereon, and any 



property erected or put on said land or 
wood cut thereon, will be taken for the 
use of the government, and all persons 
now residing on said reservation are 
notified to leave the«same forthwith, or 
subject themselves to the penalty of 
law for su(;h cases made and provided. 
(Signed.) J. M. Stone, 

U. S. Ind. Agent. 

Datku, santee Agency, Neb., August 1'),1867." 

(See original in possession of H. West- 
ermann.) 

Notwitlistaudiug the high source 
from which the order withdrawing 
these lands came, the President of 
the I'uited States, we respectfully 
sul)mit that it is null and void, 
and never has had and has not 
now, one particle of legal force upon 
the people of Knox county. However, 
as paradoxical and ridiculous as it may 
appear, the "good men" who control 
these Indians took them to the Sioux 
Treaty in 18(;s, and there had them re- 
linquish their right to occupy these 
lands in our county. 

Different attempts have been inade 
on the part of our officials and citizens 
to have tliem taken to their reservation 
in Dakota. This last winter a petition, 
by our county officers, setting out that 
these Indians were here in violation of 
law, and were a great detriment to our 
county, and praying for their removal 
was presented by Senator Paddock in 
the United States Senate, and referred 
to the committee on Indian Affairs. 
This committee, after consultation with 
the Indian Department, reported ad- 
versely to the removal. 

Our county has had a pack of barbar- 
ous vagabonds, tliat the State of Minne- 
sota could not and would not endure, 
(juartered upon it, not only illegally, luit 
in violation of law, who have more 
than eight years ago entered into a 



HISTORY OF KNOT COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 



11 



solemn treaty with the government to 
leave it and go upon their reservation, 
yet they are still here, and the entire 
State of Nebraska has not the political 
infhience to have them removed. 

AVhile the officers in the Land office 
liave no authority to permit persons to 
tile on lands included in this so-called 
reservation, all that any person has to 
do, who wishes to secure any of these 
lands is to go upon them and stay until 
he can file Ms claim in the land office, 
and there is no poioer in the United 
8t(des tvith a particle of authority to 
2)td Imn off. 

ANOTHER OITTIIAGE UPON OUR COUNTY 

was perpetrated in 18()8. in a special 
treaty with the Ponca Indians, by 
wliich it is provided that all of the 
Island in the Niobrara River shall be 
included in .their reservation. This 
treaty, however, has never been ratified, 
and is really of no binding effect. 

IMMKiRATIOX AND SETTLEMENTS. 

Immigration did not come to our 
county, after tlie war, m sufficient 
number to deserve mention, until 18(19 
'70. 

Among the settlements located are 
Creighton, Blyville. Kemma, Plum Val- 
ley, Millerboro, W;vlnnt Grove, Pisch- 
elville. Verdigris Valley, Dukeville, 
Saunders' and Brooks' Mill, and Peids- 
ville. 

CREIGIITON ANT) THE P.HT'CE COLONY. 

In the month oi' .Tamiary, 1871, J. A. 
Bruce, a merchant of Omaha, conclu- 
ded to mature an enterprise on which 
he had contemplated several years, 
namely, the organization of a colony of 
the citizens of Omaha to push out into 
the wilds of Western Nebraska, and 
there build uj) a farming community of 
])icked men and women, and last, but 
not least, build up a town. 

Mr. Bruce being a m;ui of strong posi- 



tive nature, and undaimted by difficul- 
ties, immediately began to look about 
him for companions in this enterprise. 
Among the lirst to endorse his views 
was a practicing pnysician by the name 
of Kiiowlson, and a farmer, now a liotel 
keeper in Green Island, by the name of 
Cheatham. Meetings were called and 
the long winter evenings were spent in 
maturing plans to perfect the enter- 
prise. On the evening of January 31, 
1871, an organization was perfected and 
the follo-\ving officers were elected: 
President, Dr. Knowlson; Vice-Presi- 
dent, J. A. Bruce ; Treasurer, C. Chea- 
tham ; Secretary. J. H. Bruce : Directors, 
H. Brady, Mr. Gallaher, and Mr. Gaslin, 
now judge of the ."ith district. Meetings 
were held during the month of Febru- 
ary, and a committee was sent to hunt 
up a location, and made a report in 
favor of what is now known as Ash 
Grove, and is on the Elkhorn l)etween 
the French and O'Neil Settlements. 
About the middle of March, the colo- 
nists began to outfit for their new homes, 
and, on March 21, 1871, a jovial party 
of men roll(?d out from Omaha in wag- 
ons, and, after a very pleasant trip, ar- 
rived at the place selected, March 27th. 
But, the land here not suiting many of 
the colonists, a great deal of disatisfac- 
tionwas manifested. Two committees 
were appointed to explore for better lo- 
cations. Messrs. ToAvle, Hubbard, 
Cross, and Hammond being sent up the 
I'iver, crossed over into the Running 
Water, striking it three miles above 
the town of Paddock, in Holt county, 
found this country a wilderness. They 
camped here, and tlie next day traveled 
do.vn to the upper bottom, in Knox 
county, where they were well cared for 
l)y Herko Koster, a sergeant of Infantry 
stationed at that place in charge of a 
s(iuad of men. The next morning they 



12 



HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 



started for the Elkhorn, where they ar- 
rived that evening. Tlie same night, 
the otlier party, composed of James 
Steele and C. Cheatham, arrived and re- 
ported that tliey liad discovered tlie 

"LAND OF PliOMISE." 

April (Jtli, tlie wliole party set ont for 
Knox county and the Bazil Creek. They 
camped tliat night on a branch of the 
Verdigris, On the following day our 
colony came in sight of the frame house 
of George Quimby, located on the so- 
called Mansfield town-site. They here 
had the pleasure of meeting Messrs, 
Zepf, Meke, and (Quimby, then the only 
residents of this part of the county. 
On the same evening, John and Matt 
Wagner came in by another route from 
Omaha. Here the colony spent a few- 
days very pleasantly selecting claims. 
On April loth, however, they were vis- 
ited by a terrible "blizzard" snow-storm, 
which gave rise to many ludicrous 
scenes. One circumstance, especially, is 
still no doubt fresh in the minds of 
many; that is, the dressing of the liorses 
in men's pants and underclothing to 
save their lives. But, as all storms have 
an end, so did this, which came at last, 
and was liailed by all with praises and 
thanksgiving. 

A LARGE IMMKJIIATION. 

This advanced party of the colony 
consisted of Miner W. Bruce. C. Light- 
ner, Charles Osborn, Isadore Haminerly, 
B. Behrens, J. Steele, A. I^. Towle, Mr. 
Hubbard, Ike Hammond, C. Cheatham, 
W. Cross, and J. I.ovell. April I8th 
and 19th the party began to break up 
and push for the settlement to pr-Kuire 
seed, ])rovisions, etc., with wliicli to 
commence in earnest. Tlie suniincr 
was spent in breaking, planting, and 
building. A few joined the colony dur- 
ing this season, among whom were 
Chas. Reid, Einmersou Bayniond, Ilai-- 



rison Palmer, Rev, Charles Emmerson, 
J. H. Bruce and family, William Steell, 
James Steell, and Harris Hufftle. 
Winter came at last, and with unusual 
violence. There was almost a continu- 
(^us snow storm from the 15th of No- 
vember to the 25th of December. The 
settlers were poorly provided with 
houses and barns, and there was a great 
deal of suffeiing. Many were obliged 
to live on flour alohe, which was sold at 
$5 per sack, the roads were almost im- 
passable, and some of the settlers had 
their. wagons and loads snowed in, and 
were forced to leave tliem until better 
weather eaiue. But spring dawned at 
last, and gloomy faces disappeared. The 
year of 1872 was made memorable by a 
large immigration. Among others came 
the Saundci's l>ros., and Samuel Broi.)ks, 
they having already had claims located 
before the advent of the Bruce colony. 
The settlement has kept rapidly increas- 
ing, with tlu^ exception of the draw- 
back caused by the grasshopper ravages 
of lST4-'75. Erame buildings have 
si)rung up in all directions, and the 
settlement can to-day boast of more ad- 
vantages than many older ones. It is 
well provided with schools, and teach- 
ers of no mean ability. It has a hotel, 
grist mill, two stores, blacksmith shop 
and church; and, being possessed of as 
line soil as can l)e found on an average 
in any State west of the Missouri, why 
should this settlement not be proud and 
boast V 

THOSI': (iONE TO llEST, 

But, in the midst of our i)rosperity, 
we should paus(^ to pay tribute to the 
memory of those i)ioneers Avho were 
the lii-st to ad\'ocate this enterprise, and 
llic lirst to pass away to seek lirighter 
homes, where sorrow and sufferings 
never enter, J. A. Bruce and H. B. 
llradv, men of true worth and unusual 



HISTORY OF KNOZ COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 



13 



enterprise, are to-day sadly missed by 
their many fiiends and old associates. 

CREIGHTON IS THEIR HOME. 

This settlement has had its local 
feuds, as does every enterprising com- 
munity. A si)iiit of rivalry will al- 
ways exist in a go-ahead business place 
like this settlement. But to-day the 
people of Creigliton can look back with 
honest pride and say that, in spite of 
their local troubles, tliey. never liave 
forgotten tliat Creighton is their home. 

THE BLYVILLE SETTLEMENT. 

Bly ville is to day a prosperous farm- 
ing community, and, with a few excep- 
tions, has been settled and built up in 
the last six years. Excepting the early 
settlers mentioned in ctmnection with 
Frankfort, alwut all of our eastern pre- 
cinct has been settled up within this 
.period of time. G. W. Bly, Es(i., of this 
community, has the best dwelling liouse 
and one of tlie finest farms in our 
county. .Some of the most prosper- 
ous farmers in our county and reli- 
able business men, are to ))e found 
in this precinct. Almost all of the 
two eastern ranges of the county is 
entered land, Init only the northern por- 
tion of them liave actual settlers, the 
soutliern portion being lield by non-resi- 
dent speculators. 

THE KEMMA SETTLEMENT. 

Kemina was first settled by Charles 
Wittenaben, in 1870. Numerous set- 
tlers have since joined him, making 
quite an enterprising and prosperous 
community. Indeed, so numerous have 
settlers become in tliis vicinity that the 
county ct)mmissioners have organized 
a new precinct for their benefit. Wliile 
this settlement is yet in its infancy, it 
is composed of industrious, tlioiough- 
going farmers, and will no doubt be 
one of our most wealthy districts. 



THE SETTLEMENT OF PLUM VALLEY. 

Plum Valley, situated on the Bazil 
Creek, has been settled only four years, 
but it is gradually increasing in num- 
bers, and is already (piite a prosperous 
little comnuinity. This settlement is 
included Avith Kemma in the new pre- 
cinct, the whole having been a part of 
the Creighton precinct heretofore, 

MILLERBORO' SETTLEMENT. 

Millerboro' w^as first settled in the 
spring of 1S73, by Capt. .7. M. Miller, his 
sons John fS. and J. B., and daughters 
Celestia and ArninataE., .Tohii A. Davis, 
James Ilindman, William Crum, 
George Edgerton, and joined in the fol- 
lowing fall by Archibald McGill, and 
others. However, the ravages of the 
grasshoppers in l874-'7.5 caused many of 
these settlers to leave, and, at i)resent, 
liut few persons are living at this place. 

W^\LNrT OROVE. 

Walnut Grove was first settled in 1873 
by the Chicken Bros., Henry Grim and 
sons, Herman Groling, Messrs. Clyde, 
Bennet, and others. Others have been 
settling here since. A new precinct has 
also lately been organized here. Al- 
though still new, this settlement bids 
fair to soon become flourishing and 
valuable to the county. 

SAUNDERS' AND BROOKS' MILL 

derives it name on account of the loca- 
tion of the mill here. This settlement 
was first commenced in 1870, and, al- 
though in the Creigliton precinct, has 
an individuality of its own. Messrs. 
Saunders & Brooks are among the most 
reliable and go-aliead men in our county, 
and their mill building is by far the 
largest and most costly structure yet 
erected within our boundaries. 

REIDSVILLE SETTLEMENT. 

Reidsville was first settled in 1871 by 
by Charles J. Reid and others. Numer- 



14 



HISTORY OF KNOX (BOUNTY, NEBRASKA. 



ous other settlers have since located 
lieie, and, with their fine soil and 
beautiful level farms, tlie i^eople living 
liere have every prospect of soon be- 
'•oniing a wealthy and inlluential power 
hi our county. 

OTl lER SETTLKMENTS. 

Verdigris Valley, Dukeville, Pischel- 
ville, and Steel Creek, (above the latter), 
have all been settled within the last six 
years, and almost entirely by Bohe- 
mians, Also a number of the late set- 
tlers in and about Niobrara belong to 
this nationality. Among the first of the 
l>ohemians to come here was Mr. Frank 
.lanausck, who arrived in Niobrara in 
August, 18(39, and with him Carl Schind- 
ler and a few others. In the following 
December, Joseph Sedivy, Joseph 
Krupicka, and John Ilolesk arrived. 
In the following spring our late county 
clerk. Vac. lianda, first came to Nio- 
brara, and since, the Bohemian immi- 
gration has been coming slowly but 
surely. Tliere are now more than 
seventy-five families of this class of set- 
lers in our county. A few of these had 
some little property when tliey came, 
but the majority of tliem had l»arely 
enough to bring them here, and luul to 
buy their first sack of fiour and other 
provisions on credit. Of all who liave 
settled here only two liave left, and 
these sohl their places to others. All 
are accumulating i)roperty very rapidly 
for a new country, and with so sninll a, 
beginning. They have suffered by the 
ravages of the grasshoppers, and some 
seriously by depredations by tlie In- 
dians, but still tliey remain, and are 
growing ricli. 

STATIONI>,<i S()I.T)Ii:i;s ON Till': xio- 
r.KARA. 

In 1S70-'T1 Indian depredations be- 
came so agravating that it was neces- 
sary to ]»rotect tliese settlers on tlie 



Running Water. January 11, 1S71, 
Ilerko Koster was sent from Fort Ran- 
dall to escort two of these settlers to 
the fort that the danger from the In- 
dians might be inquired into. He 
found that a number of the settlers had 
packed their effects to leave, but a de- 
tachment of soldiers, being sent to pro- 
tect them, a few days after, arrived xui- 
der Sergeant Herko Koster, and thus, 
this valuable settlement was saved to 
the county. 

THE INCKKASE OFtPOl'TLATIOX. 

It will thus be seen tliat the real set- 
tling up of our county lias, to a very 
great extent, taken place within the 
last six years. E ven Niobrara has al- 
most doubled its population wathin the 
last fifteen months. In 1870 the entire 
county cast only about forty votes. The 
late railroad election shows that we 
now have a few over three hundred 
votes. 

Our population during this time has 
increased from about two liundred to 
about one tliousand eight hundred, 
while our taxable property has in- 
creased from ten thousand to over a 
half million of dollars. 

The first school in the county was 
taught at Fi-ankfort in is7i by Mrs. 
Clark, There are now seventeen school 
districts in the county, all of which have 
schools taught some portion of the year, 
and some, teiins of nine months in each 
Near. There aie somegood frame school 
houses with seats, maps and other mod- 
ern appurtenances. The house here in 
Creighton is a uiagniflcent frame build- 
ing twenty-six feet l)y forty feet, and 
especially deserves mention. 

MAILS AND MAIL ItOUTES, 

Our mail lacilities are especially am- 
l»le. There are thirteen post offices in 
the county, ol' which three have daily 
mails, three tri-weeklv mails and the 



HmTORY OF KNOX COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 



15 



others weekly mails. Niobrara has a 
money order oftice. 

NKWSPAI'ICKS. 

September 8, 1ST4, Mr. Edwin A. Fry 
publislied the Niobrara Pioneer, the 
first newspaper ever issued in the 
coimty. He first commenced witli an 
eleven by fourteen sheet four page pa- 
per, and five weeks thereafter enlarged 
it to double its first size. The paper is 
still ■ ourishing and its proprietor ho])es 
to inake it one of the permanent insti- 
tutions of the county. 

UNITED STATKS DlSTKfCT LAND OKFICK. 

Octol)er 1, hS75, the land office for this 
district was opened in Niobrara, hav- 
ing been changed to this place from 
Dakota City. The location of this office 
to our county seat has proved to be one 
of the greatest benefits and accommo- 
dations yet secured by the citizens of 
our county. 

KIR.ST NATURAL DEATHS. 

The first natural death among the 
whites in the county was that of a. Mrs. 
Smith in 185!). The next was a Mr. 
Young, in 18(;J. 

DEATHS BY ACCIDENT. 

In 1860 one Dutch Fred was killed by 
lightning near the Bazil Mill. It was 
supposed that lie was chopping and had 
his ax raised in the air to make a l)low 
as the lightning struck him. The posi- 
tion of his body and the shattered ax 
handle indicated this. In 1867 an In- 
dian tepee on the Bazil was struck Ijy 
lightning, in which there were seven In- 
dians, and all were killed with the 
single exception of a babe which re- 
mained uninjured in the arms of its 
dead mother. In August, 1873, the 
house of T. G . Hullihen Avas struck by 
lightning and set on fire. His wife was 
very seriously injured by the same 
stroke, and was for some time thought 
to be killed, she still suffers from the 
effects. 



In 1805 T. N. Paxton had a son 
drowned in the Missouri. 

.MUKDEllS. 

Charles Rohe was shot through the 
heart, at Frankfort, in the winter of 
1857, by Eudolph (irasso. Tlie shooting 
was the result of a quarrel. No arrest 
was ever made. 

In 18.50 one Frank West while drunk 
in Niobrara deliberately shot and killed 
a Ponca Indian. No arrest. 

In 1851), one Mary-Wiseman and child 
were supposed to have been poisoned 
l)y George Star, the rei)uted father of 
the child, Avho thus destroyed the child 
of his lust and his victim. 

Ill 186!) James T. Small was shot and 
killed in his own door, while alone on 
his claim nine miles above Niobrara. 
The perpetrators of this murder were 
never discovered. 

In 1870 Alexander Cook was killed, 
it was supposed by Indians, while build- 
ing the Bazil Mill. The Indians were 
arrested, but as nothing could be proved, 
were dischar ged. Thiswas the only ar- 
rest ever made in the county for mur- 
der. In 1870, two children of Thomas 
Brobbanec, one a girl of thirteen, and 
the other a boy about eight years of age, 
were killed by Indians, supposed to be 
either Pawnees or tSioux. His wife was 
shot at the same time, but feigned death 
and thus escaped with her life. 

Thus have I sketched the origin and 
past history of our county so far as I 
have been able to ascertain them. 

I desire to tender my acknowledgments 
for assistance in this work, to G. W. 
Bly, Justus Loeber, Frank Weigand, 
Miner W. Bruce, T. G. Hullihen, H. 
AVestermann, T. N. Paxton, Frank 
Janausck, Herko Koster, B. Y. Shelley 
and especially to A. L. Towle who pre- 
pared the account of the Bruce Colony 
and the settlement of CreiShton. 



V 









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